Promoting Fire Safety On Older People’s Day

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to look out for elderly relatives and neighbours on Older People’s Day 2016 which takes place officially tomorrow (Saturday 1st October). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Older People’s Day is an international day created to recognise and celebrate the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The risk of dying in a fire for those aged 65 and over is higher than average. This becomes even more pronounced when considering our ageing population, with 23% of the UK forecast to be aged 65 and over by 2035. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Although older people are at greater risk from fire there are a few simple precautions they can take to make sure they are as safe as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Staff from the Service have and will be attending a variety of events to promote fire safety for older people, including an event at Venue Cymru today and the Open Day at Wrexham’s Ambulance and Fire Services Resource Centre tomorrow. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stuart Millington, Senior Fire Safety Manager for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Smoke alarms save lives, so please ensure elderly friends or neighbours fit a smoke alarm, maintain it and test it regularly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If you’re visiting your older relatives or friends or you can spare time to call in at a neighbour’s then please test their smoke alarm while you are there. Working smoke alarms offer valuable time that can help people escape for their home in the event of a fire.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​